General information

Care for children aged up to 3 years

Pursuant to the Act of 4 February 2011 on the Care for Children aged up to 3 years, as subsequently amended (ustawa z dnia 4 lutego 2011 r. o opiece nad dziećmi w wieku do lat 3, z późn zm.), a crèche and a kids’ club is managed by the head (referred to in the legislation as ‘director of a crèche’ and ‘the person managing a kids’ club’). 

The legislation does not specify in detail their responsibilities, except that they adopt organisational regulations for their institutions and are responsible for their implementation. Thus, they are responsible for all matters relating to efficient performance of the following statutory tasks of a crèche or kids’ club in accordance with the law:

• provide care to children in home-like conditions;

• provide proper nursing and educational care to children through play activities, with elements of education adapted to the individual needs of each child;

• organise childcare, educational and learning activities suitable for the level of psychological and physical development and the age of children.

In accordance with the Act, specific powers and responsibilities of the head are described in detail in the statutes of each institution, adopted by the entity that established and administers the institution, and its organisational regulations, adopted by the head of the institution, or in other internal regulations. (Pursuant to the legislation, a crèche or kids’ club may be established and administered by a local government unit, a public institution, a legal person or a unit without legal personality, or a natural person.)

Preschool education and school education

Pursuant to the Act of 14 December 2016, The Law on School Education, as subsequently amended (ustawa z dnia 14 grudnia 2016 r. – Prawo oświatowe, z późn. zm.), a nursery school (or another preschool education setting), school or another educational institution in the public sector is managed by the head as its only single-person authority. The head works together with the school’s/institution’s collective bodies: the teaching council (composed of all teachers and the head), the school council (representatives of teachers, parents and pupils) and the parents' council (parents of all pupils) (where such bodies are established), and with the pupil self-government (only in schools) (see also Chapter 1.7, ‘Administration and governance at local and/or institutional level’).

Public nursery schools, schools and other public educational institutions also establish the position of deputy head if they meet the following conditions:

• a nursery school has at least 6 classes (groups) or classes are located in different places, or at least 2 classes work for more than 10 hours per day;

• a school (or another educational institution) has at least 12 classes.

With the consent of its administering body, a nursery school or school (or another institution) which does not meet these conditions can create the position of deputy head, and any institution can also create additional deputy head and other management positions.

The statutes of a nursery school, school or another educational institution in the non-public sector specify its governing bodies and management positions, including the head, and their powers and responsibilities.

Responsibilities and powers of school head

Pursuant to the above-mentioned Law on School Education, the head of a public school or a public nursery school or another public institution (hereafter jointly referred to as schools):

• manages the school and represents it in its external relations;

• exercises pedagogical supervision (if the head is not a teacher, this task is taken on by a teacher holding a management position);

• provides care to pupils and conditions for their harmonious psychological and physical development through active health promotion activities;

• implements resolutions of the school council and the teaching council adopted within their remit;

• manages funds as part of a financial plan reviewed by the school council, and is responsible for their correct use; 

• creates conditions to ensure safety for pupils and teachers during classes and other activities organised by the school;

• ensures that recommendations in statements of special educational needs for pupils are implemented;

• collaborates with a school nurse or hygienist, doctor and dentist providing preventive healthcare to children and young people;

• collaborates with higher education institutions in the organisation of teaching internships for their students;

• creates conditions for activities undertaken in the school by volunteers, associations and other, in particular, scout, organisations whose statutory aim is to pursue educational activities or develop and enrich educational and childcare activities of the school;

• implements appropriate technical and organisational measures for processing personal data in accordance with the legislation on personal data protection;

• performs other tasks as laid down in specific national regulations.

and

Some key responsibilities of the head in several areas are described in greater detail below. 

Aside from his/her basic responsibilities as the head for staff (such as employing and dismissing staff; granting holiday leave and awards), the school head:  

• appoints and dismisses deputy directors and other staff holding management positions;

• assesses the performance of teaching staff (see Internal quality assurance in Chapter 10.1 ‘Quality assurance in early childhood education and care’);

With respect to the organisation of work, the head:  

• establishes a school timetable;

• after consultation with the teaching council, approves school curricula proposed by teachers, and ensures their compliance with the national core curricula;

• ensures that external exams for pupils are properly organised and conducted. 

With respect to the professional promotion of teachers, the head:

• develops a continuing professional development (CPD) plan for the teaching staff;

• appoints a mentor for a novice teacher for the induction period; provides adequate conditions for a novice teacher to conduct his/her induction programme; and assesses classes run by a novice teacher together with other members of a committee set up for this purpose (for details about the induction, see Chapter 8.2.3 ‘Conditions of service for teachers working in early childhood and school education’);

• is a member of qualification and examination boards for teachers applying for the promotion to one of the two grades available in the professional promotion system for teachers (for details about promotion, see Chapter 8.2).

With respect to pedagogical supervision (see also Chapter 10.1  ‘Quality assurance in early childhood education and care’), the head who is a teacher (or otherwise a teacher holding a management position):

• develops a pedagogical supervision plan for each school year, which is submitted to the teaching council;

• conducts internal inspections (audits), and collaborates with the external pedagogical supervision body (which, for most schools, is the Head of the Regional Education Authorities), whose responsibilities include external inspections (see Chapter 9.2 ‘Staff involved in monitoring education quality for early childhood and school education’, and Chapter 10.1); 

• supports teachers in the performance of their tasks, in particular, by planning and organising CPD activities such as training activities and staff meetings. 

With respect to psychological and educational support, the head:

• initiates, organises and coordinates psychological and educational support for pupils, in collaboration with their parents and competent institutions and organisations. 
   

Requirements for appointment as school head

Care  for children aged up to 3 years

The qualification requirements for the head of a crèche or a kids’ club are set out in the Act of 4 February 2011 on the Care for Children aged up to 3 years, as subsequently amended (ustawa z dnia 4 lutego 2011 r. o opiece nad dziećmi w wieku do lat 3, z późn zm.). 

The head of a crèche is required to have:

• a higher education qualification (at least ISCED level 6) and at least 3 years of experience in working with children; or

• at least a secondary or secondary vocational qualification (at least ISCED level 3) and 5 years of experience in working with children.

The head of a kids’ club has the qualifications required of the head of a crèche or of a childminder in a crèche or kids’ club (for childminders, see ‘Qualifications, evaluation and certificates’ in Chapter 8.1 ‘Initial education for teachers working in early childhood and school education’). 

Like other staff, the head of a crèche or a kids’ club must also meet the following additional legal and formal requirements:

• provides a guarantee of proper care for children;

• his/her parental responsibility has not been terminated, suspended or limited;

• fulfils his/her child maintenance (alimony) obligations if such obligations have been administered or approved by a court ruling;

• is not included in the Register of Sex Offenders and has not been convicted of an intentional offence by a valid court ruling.

Preschool  education and school education

The requirements for the position of head of a public school (or nursery school or another public institution) are specified in the legislation (Regulation of the Minister of National Education of 11 August 2017 on the requirements for the position of head and other management positions in public nursery schools, primary and post-primary schools and other public educational institutions, as subsequently amended (rozporządzenie Ministra Edukacji Narodowej z dnia 11 sierpnia 2017 r. w sprawie wymagań, jakim powinna odpowiadać osoba zajmująca stanowisko dyrektora oraz inne stanowisko kierownicze w publicznym przedszkolu, publicznej szkole podstawowej, publicznej szkole ponadpodstawowej oraz publicznej placówce, z późn. zm.).

The legislation does not specify appointment requirements for the position of head in non-public schools (or nursery schools or other non-public institutions). Such requirements are laid down by the body administering a given school in internal regulations. They can be identical with the requirements for school heads in the public sector.

Requirements for appointment in the public sector

The head may be a teacher (teaching head) or a person who is not a teacher (a non-teaching head or a so-called head-manager). The overwhelming majority of school heads are teaching heads.

The position of head in nursery schools, schools or other institutions at all education levels may be taken by an appointed or chartered teacher (a teacher holding one of the two grades in the professional promotion system for teachers, aside from the honorary title of school education professor; see Chapter 8.2, ‘Conditions of service for teachers working in early childhood and school education’) who meets all of the following requirements:

• has completed a Master’s degree programme (leading to a magister degree or an equivalent degree) (ISCED level 7) and a teaching training programme, and has other qualifications required to take a teaching position in a given type of nursery school, school or institution;

• has completed a first-, second- or long-cycle programme or a non-degree postgraduate programme in the field of management, or a qualification course in school education management provided in accordance with the regulations on in-service teacher training institutions;

• has at least 5 years of teaching experience as a schoolteacher or academic teacher;

• has received at least a Very Good grade in the performance appraisal conducted in the last 5 years of work (for a schoolteacher) or a positive assessment in the performance appraisal at his/her higher education institution in the last 4 years (for an academic teacher);

• meets health requirements for a management position;

• has full legal capacity and public rights;

• has not received a disciplinary penalty by a decision which has come into force as envisaged in the relevant regulations, and is not subject to any disciplinary proceedings;

• has not been convicted of an intentional offence or an intentional fiscal offence by a valid court judgment;

• is not subject to any legal proceedings initiated by public prosecution services;

• has not been banned from holding a position related to the management of public funds;

• for a foreign national: has knowledge of the Polish language certified in accordance with the relevant regulations or has completed a first-, second- or long-cycle programme in the field of Polish Language and Literature Studies, or is a sworn / certified Polish-language translator.

The position of head in nursery schools and primary schools, except special schools, may also be taken by an appointed or chartered teacher who has completed a first-cycle (Bachelor’s degree) programme (leading to a licencjat / inżynier or an equivalent degree) (ISCED level 6) and a teacher training programme, and has the qualifications required of teachers in a given type of institution (see Chapter 8.2, Conditions of service for teachers working in early childhood and school education). Other requirements are the same as for teachers with a Master's degree.

A non-teaching head must fulfil all of the following requirements:

• is a Polish national, but this requirement does not apply to nationals of the EU Member States, the EFTA countries that are parties to the EEA agreement, and the Swiss Confederation;

• holds a Master's degree;

• has at least 5 years of work experience, including at least 2 years in a management position;

• is not subject to any legal proceedings initiated by public prosecution services or disciplinary proceedings;

• meets the requirements listed above for teaching heads concerning the completion of a degree or non-degree postgraduate programme in management or a qualification course in school education management; health condition; legal capacity and public rights; no criminal record; no ban on holding a position related to the management of public funds; and – for a foreign national – the knowledge of the Polish language.

Qualification courses in school education management, which are mentioned among the qualification requirements above, usually have a duration of 210-220 hours. They cover school education legislation, human resources management in education, school education finances, strategic planning, management pedagogy, and headship internships. 

Conditions of service

Care for  children aged up to 3 years

The national legislation on care for children aged up to 3 years does not lay down any procedure for the appointment or conditions of service for the head of a crèche or a kids’ club. Such matters are regulated by the entity administering a given childcare institution in accordance with the generally applicable labour laws and / or specific regulations applicable to the entity that administers a given institution (for example, a local government unit, LGU). 

For an LGU-administered crèche or kids’ club, the LGU concerned recruits the head through an open competition and hires him/her on the basis of a fixed-term or indefinite employment contract (Act of 21 November 2008 on Local Government Employees, as subsequently amended / ustawa z dnia 21 listopada 2008 r. o pracownikach samorządowych, z późn. zm.). 

Pursuant to the Act of 26 June 1974, The Labour Code, as subsequently amended (ustawa z dnia 26 czerwca 1974 r., Kodeks Pracy, z późn. zm.), the working time of a full-time head is 8 hours per day and, on average, 40 hours per week. Where necessary, he/she may have to work overtime, also at night, on Sundays and public holidays. 

For LGU-administered crèches or kids’ clubs, the legislation sets the minimum basic monthly salary rate for the head at PLN 5,670 (EUR 1337.95, according to the EC currency exchange rate, EUR 1 = PLN 4.24, July 2025). The LGU administering a childcare institution sets the maximum salary rate, together with allowances (for example, length-of-service and function-related allowances) and other entitlements (for example, anniversary awards). (Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 25 October 2021 on the remuneration of local government employees, as subsequently amended / rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z dnia 21 października 2021 r. w sprawie wynagradzania pracowników samorządowych, z późn.zm).

For information on the performance appraisal of the head of a childcare institution, see Chapter 10.1 ‘Quality assurance in early childhood and school education’.

The legislation on childcare does not address continuing professional development of the head of a crèche or a kids’ club. Pursuant to the Act on Local Government Employees, heads of LGU-administered institutions are required to improve their skills on a continuous basis. The body administering a given childcare institution adopts detailed arrangements in this area. 

The legislation on childcare does not provide for any specific retirement entitlements for heads of crèches or kids’ clubs. In accordance with the generally applicable retirement and pensions laws, like other employee groups, they may retire at the age of at least 60 for women and at least 65 for men (Act of 17 December 1998 on Retirement Pensions and Disability Pensions from the Social Security Fund, as subsequently amended / ustawa z dnia 17 grudnia 1998 r. o emeryturach i rentach z Funduszu Ubezpieczeń Społecznych (z późn. zm.). 

Preschool education  and school education

Recruitment

The Act of 14 December 2016, The Law on School Education, as subsequently amended (ustawa z dnia 14 grudnia 2016 r. – Prawo Oświatowe, z późn. zm.) sets out general rules for the recruitment of the head of a publicschool, nursery school or another public educational institution (hereafter jointly referred to as schools). A detailed procedure for competitions for the position of head is laid down in the Regulation of the Minister of National Education of 11 August 2017 on the rules for a competition for the position of head of a public nursery school, primary school, post-primary school or another public educational institution, and the rules of procedure for a competition committee, as subsequently amended (rozporządzenie Ministra Edukacji Narodowej z dnia 11 sierpnia 2017 r. w sprawie regulaminu konkursu na stanowisko dyrektora publicznego przedszkola, publicznej szkoły podstawowej, publicznej szkoły ponadpodstawowej lub publicznej placówki oraz trybu pracy komisji konkursowej, z późn. zm.).

The head of a public school is appointed by an administrative decision of the body administering a given school (which is a local government unit in most cases; see also Chapters 1.6, ‘Administration and governance at central and/or regional Level’, and 1.7, ‘Administration and governance at local and/or institutional level’). If the head to be appointed is not a teacher, the administering body is additionally required to consult the body in charge of external pedagogical supervision (which is the Head of the Regional Education Authorities for most schools).

The body administering a public school holds an open competition to select a candidate. The requirement to hold a competition does not apply to public schools which are administered by natural persons or legal persons other than local government units (LGUs).

The school administering body appoints a competition committee which is composed of representatives of:

• the school administering body (3 members);

• the pedagogical supervision body (3 members);

• the school’s teaching council (2 members);

• the school’s parents’ council (2 members); and

• trade unions operating in the school (1 member from each).

The total number of representatives from the school administering and pedagogical supervision bodies may not be smaller than that of the other representatives to ensure that the majority represents the bodies that are responsible for the quality of school performance.

The committee holds an interview with each candidate who meets formal requirements, assessing, in particular, his/her ideas for the activities and development of the school. If no irregularities are found in the recruitment process, the administering body approves the competition and the selected candidate.

Where no candidate has entered or has been selected in a competition, the school administering body appoints a candidate chosen in agreement with the pedagogical supervision body, after consultation with the school council (composed of representatives of teachers, parents and pupils) and the teaching council (all teachers and the head).

In accordance with the legislation, the position of school head in the public sector may be held for 5 school years, but where justified, the term of office may be shorter, though not shorter than one school year.

There is no requirement for heads of non-public schools to be appointed through a competition, and recruitment arrangements are laid down in their internal regulations.

Dismissal

The head of a public school may be dismissed by the school administering body in the case of:

• his/her resignation (with a 3-months’ notice);

• a ‘negative’ grade received in the performance appraisal or an unfavourable assessment of the performance of financial management and administrative tasks (with no notice) (see Performance appraisal of the school head in Chapter 10.1 ‘Quality assurance in early childhood and school education’);

• a dismissal motion submitted by the pedagogical supervision body in case the head has failed to address, within a timeframe set, shortcomings identified in an inspection conducted in the school (see Inspections in Chapter 10.1). 

A motion to dismiss a teaching head may also be submitted by the teaching council of the school. The body administering a given school considers the motion and takes a decision.

Conditions for the dismissal of heads in the non-public sector are laid down in internal regulations of each school.

Working time and holiday leave

In the public sector, the working time of a teaching head is regulated by the Act of 26 January 1982, The Teachers’ Charter, as subsequently amended (ustawa z dnia 26 stycznia 1982 r. - Karta Nauczyciela, z późn. zm.), and depends on his/her teaching load. The arrangements for a non-teaching head are laid down in the Act of 21 November 2008 on Local Government Employees, as subsequently amended (ustawa z dnia 21 listopada 2008 r. o pracownikach samorządowych, z późn. zm.) (for most nursery schools, schools and other educational institutions as they are administered by a local government unit, LGU) and/or in the generally applicable Act of 26 June 1974, The Labour Code, as subsequently amended (ustawa z dnia 26 czerwca 1974 r., Kodeks Pracy, z późn. zm.).

The working time of a full-time teacher may not exceed 40 hours per week. A teaching head in the public sector either has his/her compulsory weekly teaching load reduced, based on the size of the school (number of classes), its type and working conditions, or is fully relieved from his/her teaching duties. The working time of a non-teaching head may not exceed 8 hours per day and 40 hours in a 5-day working week. However, when necessary, management staff should work extra hours without overtime pay. 

A teaching head (and a teacher who holds a management position for at least 10 months) is entitled to holiday leave of 35 working days during a period set in the holiday timetable. Like other employees, non-teaching heads are entitled to holiday leave of 20 days, if the total work experience is below 10 years, or 26 days for at least 10 years’ work experience. For heads of LGU-administered schools, the appointment conditions and/or an employment contract set out detailed holiday entitlements. 

In the non-public sector, the Labour Code applies to school heads regardless of whether they are teaching or non-teaching heads. In practice, most schools adopt arrangements which are similar to those in the public sector.

Salaries

Like for the working time, different remuneration arrangements are in place for teaching and non-teaching school heads in the public sector.

Salaries of teaching heads are determined in accordance with the regulations applicable to all teachers (Act of 26 January 1982, The Teachers’ Charter, as subsequently amended / ustawa z dnia 26 stycznia 1982 r. - Karta Nauczyciela, z późn. zm.; Regulation of the Minister of National Education and Sport of 31 January 2005 on the minimum rates of the basic pay for teachers, other work-related benefits and allowances and pay for work on days free of duty, as subsequently amended / rozporządzenie Ministra Edukacji Narodowej i Sportu z dnia 31 stycznia 2005 r. w sprawie wysokości minimalnych stawek wynagrodzenia zasadniczego nauczycieli, ogólnych warunków przyznawania dodatków do wynagrodzenia zasadniczego oraz wynagradzania za pracę w dniu wolnym od pracy, z późn. zm.). 

The salary of a head consists of the basic salary and allowances (including, a function-related allowance and a length-of-service allowance) and, where applicable, the pay for overtime hours and ad-hoc replacements, awards and other benefits. 

Each year, the minister responsible for school education establishes by regulation the minimum rates of the basic salary, which take into account teachers’ professional promotion grades (for promotion, see Chapter, 8.2, ‘Conditions of service for teachers working in early childhood and school education’), the level of formal qualifications and the teaching load. The school head and the school administering body negotiate the specific rate to be applied.

Salaries of non-teaching heads are usually determined in accordance with the legislation on local government employees as heads of most schools are employed by a local government unit as the school administering body. The salary of a head consists of the basic pay, a function-related allowance and a length-of-service allowance, and, where applicable, an allowance for increased workload or work in specific conditions.

In the school year 2022/2023, annual gross basic statutory salaries of heads (full-time and fully qualified school heads in public nursery schools and schools) were as follows:

Source: European Commission / Eurydice, the interactive tool Teachers’ and School Heads’ Salaries and Allowances in Europe (last accessed: 05/06/2025).   

In the non-public sector, the employer (the body administering a given school) determines the level of the salary for both a teaching head and a non-teaching head in accordance with the generally applicable labour laws.

The national legislation (Act of 27 October 2017 on the Financing of School Education Tasks, as subsequently amended / ustawa z dnia 27 października 2017 r. o finansowaniu zadań oświatowych, z późn. zm.) sets only the upper limit for an annual salary of the school head that can be financed from the local government subsidy. The limit is equal to 150% of 12 average salaries of a chartered teacher (that is, a teacher holding the second and highest professional promotion grade), determined in accordance with the Teachers’ Charter. The salary of a head can be higher if the remaining amount comes from funding sources other than the local government subsidy.

Promotion

Teaching heads who hold the appointed teacher grade (the first of the two professional promotion grades) can be promoted to the chartered teacher grade (for promotion, see Chapter 8.2, Conditions of service for teachers working in early childhood and school education). They can also apply for a job in a Regional Education Authority responsible for pedagogical supervision of nursery schools, schools and other educational institutions in the school education system; see Chapter 9.2 ‘Staff involved in monitoring educational quality for early childhood and school education’.

Retirement

Teaching heads of public and non-public schools may retire in accordance with the same regulations as other groups of employees: at the age of at least 60 years for women and at least 65 years for men (Act of 17 December 1998 on Retirement Pensions and Disability Pensions from the Social Security Fund, as subsequently amended / ustawa z dnia 17 grudnia 1998 r. o emeryturach i rentach z Funduszu Ubezpieczeń Społecznych, z późn. zm.)

However, teaching heads in the public sector and those who are employed at least on a half-time basis in the non-public sector also have the same special retirement rights as all other teachers; they may retire earlier, regardless of the age, after 30 years of work, including 20 years in specific conditions in education (for details, see Chapter 8.2, Conditions of service for teachers working in early childhood and school education).

Non-teaching heads in the public and non-public sectors are subject to the generally applicable retirement regulations and may retire under the same conditions as other employee groups; see above. 

Continuing professional development

Teaching heads should undertake continuing professional development (CPD) activities in line with the needs of their schools, as provided for in the legislation applicable to teachers (Act of 26 January 1982, The Teachers’ Charter, as subsequently amended / ustawa z dnia 26 stycznia 1982 r. - Karta Nauczyciela, z późn. zm.). For details, see Chapter 8.3, ‘Continuing professional development for teachers working in early childhood and school education’). 

Similarly, non-teaching heads working in schools administered by local government units should improve their skills on a continuous basis (Act of 21 November 2008 on Local Government Employees, as subsequently amended / ustawa z dnia 21 listopada 2008 r. o pracownikach samorządowych, z późn. zm.).

The legislation does not lay down specific CPD requirements for school heads, but improvement of management competences is one of the mandatory criteria for the appraisal of their performance (see Performance appraisal of the school head in Chapter 10.1 ‘Quality assurance in early childhood and school education’). 

Training courses and other types of CPD activities for school heads are organised by in-service teacher training institutions and continuing education centres, higher education institutions and other educational and training institutions.